Giant Anthony Joshua must not crouch down against 6ft Andy Ruiz Jr in rematch, warns Takam as he advises change of tactics
ANTHONY JOSHUA has no chance of wrestling his world titles back from Andy Ruiz Jr unless he rips up his playbook and starts again.
French warhorse Carlos Takam gave the 6ft 6in Brit heavyweight a horrible night’s work over ten gruelling rounds in 2017, despite being the vastly shorter man.
And days before the New York disaster on June 1, 29-year-old Joshua told the British media he dreads fighting little guys, like Ruiz, who is 19st but barely 6ft.
The David vs Goliath showdown ended in a shock disaster for the 2012 Olympic golden boy but 6ft 1in hardman Takam saw it coming after sussing the chink in Joshua’s armour.
The Las Vegas-based tank said: “I knew he did not like fighting smaller guys. I sparred with him once before we boxed and because I was small he would always crouch down.
“Crouching down is no good for a fighter like him, he’s a tall man, by crouching down he loses his advantages.
“He should be on top but, when he fought Ruiz he should have been dominating it on top. Joshua needs another tactic because Ruiz has already beaten him and will have no fear.”
A series of suspicious incidents left the boxing world rife with rumours of a behind-the-scenes problem before the round seven stoppage at Madison Square Garden.
Takam, 38, agrees AJ’s lacklustre ring-walk and painful performance hint at a major issue before the bell.
I knew he did not like fighting smaller guys. I sparred with him once before we boxed and because I was small he would always crouch down.
Carlos Takam on Anthony Joshua
But he insists Ruiz’s superior amateur background and speed also played a huge part in the tubby underdog bringing the Joshua empire crumbling down.
He said: “There was something wrong with him. It did not look like him in the first round, he was too slow.
“I was not surprised Ruiz won because, in this division, any one punch can put you down.
“Everyone was saying, ‘He is just a fat guy’ but I kept quiet.
“He might be a fat guy but he can punch, he has good movement and he throws many combinations. He is too fast for Joshua.”
AJ is leaping back into a rematch, which will either be at MSG on November 29 or December 7 or in Cardiff on December 14.
Fellow Brit heavyweight Dereck Chisora, 35, warned Joshua to ditch party hotspot Miami and work on his defence if he is to have any chance of beating Ruiz Jr.
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He said: “AJ relies on his power, he has mad power. When he dropped Ruiz with an uppercut and left hook, everyone thought the fight was over but he came back.
“He just needs to work on his defence and get his hands up to cover his chin. He wins the rematch, he just had one bad day in the office.
“He needs to stay in Sheffield not Miami, he’ll come back, train and be great.”
